FILE- In this May 20, 2004 photo, Jerry Reinsdorf is shown in New York. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Gregory Bull

2010-05-07 03:10:00

TORONTO - Ice Edge Holdings appears to be back in the mix of the Phoenix Coyotes ownership saga, but Jerry Reinsdorf's bid to buy the club might not be dead yet.

The City of Glendale has apparently reopened negotiations with Ice Edge, a group of Canadian and American investors wanting to buy the Coyotes, according to a published report in the Arizona Republic. The reported negotiations come less than a month after the city rejected the group's offer in favour of a bid from Chicago sports mogul Reinsdorf.

A source close to Ice Edge told the Republic the group was approached by Glendale in the past week or so but has not reached any agreement.

Meanwhile, other sources close to the deal told the newspaper that online and media reports that Reinsdorf's bid was close to collapse were untrue.

The city is expected to negotiate with both bidders for the team.

On April 14, Glendale unanimously accepted Reinsdorf's bid with a 6-0 vote, while voting 5-1 against Ice Edge.

At the time, vice mayor Manny Martinez questioned whether Ice Edge actually had the capital available to purchase the team.

The Winnipeg Jets moved to Arizona and became the Phoenix Coyotes in 1996 and the team has never turned a profit in the desert.

If an owner can't be found to keep the team in Arizona, it is possible the NHL will instead move quickly to finalize a purchase agreement with Canadian billionaire David Thomson and move the team back to Manitoba's capital.